• Some are young mothers who dropped out of school after getting pregnant, while others were forced into marriage.
• The Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa has helped many girls to go back to school and college, while others established business.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
She Leads programme has helped 600 Kwale girls change their lives.
They have learned they have rights and education. They have learned they can stand up and speak their minds to men and elders.
Most of the girls are victims of gender-based violence but they are recruited and empowered to turn their lives around.
Some are young mothers who dropped school or college after getting pregnant while others were forced marriages. Now many are back in school and quite a few have started their own business.
She Leads is part of Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa. It focuses on girls aged 14 up to women aged 30.
Programme associate officer Esther Ndinya leads the five-year programme in Kwale subcounties of Lunga-Lunga, Msambweni and Kinango.
Ndinya spoke on Tuesday in an interview while marking the International Day of the Girl Child at Kwale Cultural Centre in Matuga.
The level of violence against women and girls is high in the area, with many early forced marriages, teen pregnancies and prostitution.
Ndinya said the programme has assisted the girls to become good advocates for girls’ empowerment, which has helped restore dignity.
"We have trained the girls on resilient skills, human rights and where to seek justice in case of abuse," she said.
Kwale children's officer Zaphania Apoko said the government has introduced the presidential scholarship and cash transfer programmes to facilitate children's and young women's learning.
Ndinya said the organisation's research showed girls were used as pets because many families undermined their rights due to outdated traditions and cultures.
She said some communities and girls were unable to differentiate between a right and abuse since they have been raised practising the abuses and vices.
The programme officer said some of the girls found it okay to quit learning and get married, which contributed to rising teen pregnancies in the region.
"The girls had no clue of their rights, shockingly a class three girl would think of marriage," she said.
But through the programme, many girls and families were reached and provided with guidance and counselling.
Ndinya said a huge percentage of the recruited girls are now focused on rebuilding their lives through better education and equal job opportunities.
She said the girls are fighting leadership roles in the community and have found a voice to stand against GBVs because they are aware of their rights.
Previously, the girls were afraid to address elders because it was against their traditions for women to stand before men.
The officer said the empowerment has made many parents change their perceptions about women and prioritize girls' education.
Ndinya called on more girls to speak out against injustices and seek help.
She said the only way the government and NGOs can assist them is if they report GBV cases or any form of sexual harassment.
Naya's programme officer also urged governments into introduce rights education in the curriculum.
She said the syllabus will enable children to know their rights at a tender age, which can assist in curbing GBV cases among minors.
Kwale children's officer poko blamed parental neglect, poverty and lack of accessible basic government services for the increase GBV cases in Kwale.
He said poverty has pushed girls to early marriages as they seek alternative means of survival.
"We have Inajua Jamii programmes for the elderly, orphans and children supported by bursaries to cushion vulnerable families from poverty," he said.
He said the government in partnership with various NGOs is conducting several rights awareness programmes to curb the vices.
(Edited by V. Graham)